"I'm a 38-year-old freelance health writer and an architectural consultant. On paper, the two worlds couldn't be more different. One involves writing about nutrition, fitness, and longevity, and the other involves reviewing floor plans, code requirements, and construction details. But together, they've shaped nearly every part of my life, including how I parent. For years, I thought parenting meant "getting everything right." I read all the books, listened to all the podcasts, followed the routines, and made sure our kids ate well and slept enough."
"Freelance writing and architectural consulting both operate in unpredictable cycles. Deadlines collide, clients change their minds, and there's never a neat 9-to-5 rhythm. I used to fight that chaos, convinced I could control every variable if I just planned better and micromanaged every minute of my calendar. Parenting is a lot like that: full of plans that crumble by 8 a.m."
A 38-year-old freelance health writer and architectural consultant balances two distinct careers while parenting two children, ages nine and eleven. One role focuses on nutrition, fitness, and longevity; the other focuses on reviewing floor plans, code requirements, and construction details. Both careers run on unpredictable cycles with colliding deadlines and shifting client demands, producing a nontraditional schedule. Attempts to micromanage time around naps and pickups often failed due to meltdowns, client emergencies, or missed emails, prompting self-criticism. Over time the professional approach shifted toward constant adjustment, cultivating patience, resilience, acceptance of imperfection, focused presence, and greater parental presence.
Read at Business Insider
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